Leroy Walter Clark, Jr.

by Jerry Dixon
(Collinsville, OK)

Leroy was from Preston, OK. He was very active in H.S. Played basketball, baseball, in class play. Graduated in May 1941. Enlisted in U.S. Army Air Corp Feb 1942. He went to gunnery school in AZ, radio talker school in IL. Eventually assigned to crew of B24. After extensive training, in U.S., crew was sent to San Pancrazio, Italy. He was member of 513 Bomb Sq 376 Bomb GP. On Aug 6 1944 his A/C Vivie, was on mission over Toulon France to bomb German sub pens. B24 was hit by flak. Some members were able to get out, Leroy and pilot and co-pilot did not. Leroy was only child. I visited with his mother in later years, and reminded her that the government would bring his remains back home, and she said the three were burned so badly they could not be identified, and she would never be sure that it was her son. He is buried, along with crew mates, at Rhone American Cemetery and Memorial, Draguignan, France.On this day, Leroy was 20 years old, on his 22nd mission. His B24 was Vivie, group #55. I read a letter he had written his grandparents, in Okmulgee, OK, dtd Aug 5, day before he was killed. In it he said "there are no atheists up here when that flak is going off". T Sgt Leroy Walter Clark, Jr. April 21 1924 - Aug 6 1944